RUBYS ARTIST GRANTS

The Rubys Artist Grants provide direct funding of up to $10,000 to Baltimore-area artists to support innovative projects with significant impact. Grants are offered in four broad discipline categories—Performing Arts, Media Arts, Visual Arts, Literary Arts—for the creation of new artwork. Applications in each discipline category are accepted once per year.

The Rubys are guided by the core values of experimentation, risk-taking, and unfettered creativity in support of new artistic projects.

Launched in 2013, the Rubys Artist Grant program was conceived, designed, and initiated with funding from the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation. The Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance (GBCA) was selected to administer the first phase of the grant program. During the initial five years of development, the Rubys were established as an important and respected opportunity for artists in the Baltimore region. To date, the program has granted over $680,000 to 92 artists. The Rubys Artist Grant Program was inspired by the work of Creative Capital in New York City and named in honor of its visionary founder, Ruby Lerner.

Grantees represent all artistic disciplines, with selected projects ranging from jazz oeuvres and immersive theater to experimental film and poetic memoir. Past grantees have gone onto critical acclaim with fellowships from the Guggenheim Foundation, United States Artists, and Halcyon Arts Lab, and have taken their projects to the Maryland Film Festival, the Hirshhorn Museum, and the Baltimore Museum of Art.

Questions?

INTRODUCING THE GRANTEES

What impact does a Rubys Artist Project Grant have on an artist? Introducing five grantees from 2014 and 2015. Video credit: Joe Rubino, 2014.

WHAT’S NEW

7/30/19

LAST DAYS TO APPLY

Do not delay - the deadline to apply for a 2019 Rubys Artist Grant is tomorrow, July 31 at 11:59pm! APPLICATION LINK HERE. Have a question? Email the program director at rubys@rwdfoundation.org or phone them at 443-275-1144.

5-29-19

Get ready to apply! The 2019 Rubys Artist Grant application link opens on Saturday, June 1. Bookmark this page so that you may start your application this weekend.

4-15-19

COUNTDOWN TO APPLICATION OPENING

It’s almost here - the 2019 Rubys application opens for submissions on June 1! This year, all artistic categories are represented in one grant cycle. Artists may apply for a grant in one of four categories - Literary Arts, Media Arts, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts. It’s never too early to begin assembling your application. Download the grant guidelines here.

2-7-2019

2019 RUBYS WORKSHOPS

Three workshops have been scheduled for the upcoming Rubys season. Attend one to learn about applying for a Rubys Grant as well as tips and strategies for preparing a strong application. This is an opportunity to ask questions in-person with the Program Director and strengthen your grant-seeking skills. Workshops are free and open to all. Learn more here.

12-14-2018

RUBYS GRANT SCHEDULE UPDATE

For 2019, we reorganized the Rubys program schedule and this year ALL ARTISTIC CATEGORIES are represented in the grant cycle – Literary Arts, Media Arts, Performing Arts, and Visual Arts. Moving forward, there will be only one grant cycle per year. Artists may submit just one application across all categories.

More information, including dates for grant information sessions (which will take place late spring 2019), will post in January 2019. The application link will open on June 1, 2019 with a deadline to apply of July 31, 2019. Learn more here.

10-9-2018ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE 2018 RUBYS GRANTEES IN LITERARY AND VISUAL ARTS!

The Robert W. Deutsch Foundation is thrilled to announce the seven artists and one artist collective that were selected for 2018 Rubys Artist Grants in literary arts and visual arts. The artists selected represent an expansive breadth of stories being told through poetry, biography, video, installation, and virtual reality.Read the full announcement here.

9-13-2018RUBYS ARTIST GRANT PROGRAM LAUNCHES SECOND PHASE IN 2019!

The Robert W. Deutsch Foundation and the Greater Baltimore Cultural Alliance (GBCA) announce the transition of the Rubys Artist Grants Program from GBCA to the Deutsch Foundation. The planned transition of the program includes the promotion of Sonja Cendak from Program Manager at GBCA to Program Director at the Robert W. Deutsch Foundation. Read more here.

Thank you to all the artists who applied for a 2018 visual arts and literary arts grants for your patience. The review process is in its final stages and all applicants will be notified by the first week of October.